AN Edinburgh Rugby player says he is “devastated” after his Iranian grandparents were told they must leave Scotland.

Mozaffar Saberi, 83, and his wife Rezvan Habibimarand, 73, have lived in the Capital on and off over the past 40 years. They brought up their children here and now have a close-knit family of four children, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

They also act as co-parents for one of the grandchildren, a teenager with severe autism who does not speak and requires constant supervision. Their help means the boy’s mother – a single parent – can continue her work as an NHS nurse.

Although the rest of the family is British, the couple never sought citizenship and now face removal because they do not have the required visa.

Today, their rugby playing grandson Damien Hoyland wrote on Twitter: “My grandparents have been extremely close to our family ever since I can remember. Losing them now would be devastating for us all. The Home Office are refusing to let my grandparents remain in the UK. Please help my family’s cause by signing our petition to overturn the Home Office’s decision.”

Thousands of people have signed the petition against the removal of Mozaffar Rezvan.

The couple spent time in the UK on visitor visas over the years but after visiting in November 2012 they made an application to remain on human rights grounds which was refused by the Home Office. A second application was also refused and they are now appealing against the decision, with the case due to be heard on February 25.

The couple have said they are distressed at the prospect of being separated from their family who all live in Edinburgh.

Their son Navid Saberi said: “It is very very stressful. They are elderly and not really keeping well and on top of their health problems it is a psychological effect, not knowing what is around the corner and what is going to happen in the future.

“The prospect of leaving three generations of children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild and going back to Iran has not been easy for them.”

He added: “They have got nobody in Iran. It is just beyond belief.”

The couple also look after their severely autistic grandson who is non-verbal in order to help their daughter, an NHS nurse who is a single mother.

Mr Saberi said his parents have a strong emotional bond with the boy and it could have a detrimental effect on him if they have to leave the country.

John Vassiliou, partner at McGill & Co which is handling the case, said: “Mr Saberi is in his 80s, his wife is in her 70s. If they go back to Iran it’s difficult for British citizens to visit Iran, they can’t just fly over as if they were going to Spain or France.

“They are showing lots of signs of old age physically and mentally and they just want to be with their family. If they go back to Iran they will be alone.

“They are very distressed by the whole process. If they go back to Iran they will be two old people living alone whereas here they are living in Edinburgh with all their family around them.

“Their family are all here and that social aspect and emotional support that they get here will disappear if they go back to Iran.”

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition on change.org calling on the Home Office to allow the couple to stay in the UK.

Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, has voiced his support for the family. He tweeted: “I’m working with the family & their lawyers to try & persuade the Home Secretary to do the decent thing.” A Home Office spokesman said: “All UK visa applications are considered on their individual merits, on the basis of the evidence available and in line with UK immigration rules.”

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